[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 200 (Thursday, October 15, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65239-65241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20318]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

45 CFR Part 2500

RIN 3045-AA75


Agency Operating Name, Adoption of New Logos, & Retirement of 
Logos

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule makes non-substantive amendments to the Corporation 
for National and Community Service's (CNCS) regulations to change the 
operating name of the agency to ``AmeriCorps,'' to adopt two new logos, 
and to retire all existing logos, except Days of Service, from daily 
use. This final rule adds a new part--2500--to Title 45 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations to reflect the operational name change, new logos, 
and retirement of logos. This rule is not intended to change the legal 
effect of the use of the name AmeriCorps as defined in agency's 
regulations.

DATES: This rule is effective on October 15, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Borgstrom at the Corporation for 
National and Community Service, 250 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20525, 
[email protected], phone 202-422-2781.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Throughout 2017 and 2018, the Corporation for National and 
Community Service coordinated efforts to increase its effectiveness, 
efficiency, and accountability. This effort culminated in the 2018 
announcement of CNCS's Transformation and Sustainability Plan (Plan) 
that set forth six goals that included simplifying CNCS's brand. After 
CNCS issued the Plan, the agency focused its efforts on implementing 
the Plan's six goals. This rule is the outcome of the implementation of 
Goal 5 to ``simplify the CNCS brand.''
    To gain insight and knowledge about the CNCS brand, the agency 
engaged in a multi-stage, in-depth research analysis that included an 
open comment period, in-depth interviews, and a survey of nearly 4,000 
members, volunteers, grantees, sponsors, and service program alumni. 
The results of this research showed that 80 percent of the general 
public is not familiar with CNCS. Only 12 percent of the general public 
can correctly identify the main purpose of CNCS. Of CNCS's actual 
grantees and sponsors, 50 percent said it can be difficult to explain 
the AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs.
    After conducting a lengthy research and development process and 
considering feedback from stakeholders, staff, and the public, the 
agency is adopting a new name: AmeriCorps. The agency is adopting the 
following two official logos and retiring for use all existing logos, 
including those for the following programs: Foster Grandparents, Senior 
Companions, RSVP, AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, 
AmeriCorps NCCC, and the Volunteer Generation Fund.
    The adoption of an operating name for CNCS does not change the 
legal name of the agency, which will remain the Corporation for 
National and Community Service. Thus, Congress will continue to 
appropriate funds to CNCS (and the agency's Congressional Budget 
Request would still be issued as CNCS). The formal title of the head of 
the agency (i.e., for purposes of Presidential appointment and Senate 
confirmation) will remain the Chief Executive Officer of the 
Corporation for National and Community Service. However, the agency 
will use the adopted operating name in virtually every other context, 
including referring to the head of the agency as the Chief Executive 
Officer of AmeriCorps.
    Changing the operational name does not change the mission or 
structure of the agency's programs, their names, or their funding 
streams. Rather, it will focus and unify promotion efforts under one 
operating name and the two new logos to elevate awareness of the 
opportunities for all Americans.

II. Regulatory Procedures

Inapplicability of Prior Public Notice and Delayed Effective Date 
Requirements

    This regulation involves matters relating to agency management and 
involves a technical change regarding

[[Page 65240]]

the name of the two CNCS components. For this reason, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(a)(2), prior notice and comment is not required. Because 
this is not a substantive rule, publication and service of the rule 
thirty days before its effective date, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d), is 
likewise not required.

Regulatory Planning and Review

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits.
    Executive Order 13771 directs agencies to control regulatory costs 
through a budgeting process. This rule has not been designated a 
``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 12866. 
Accordingly, this rule has not been reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), and pursuant to OMB guidance it is exempt 
from the requirements of Executive Order 13771.
    This regulatory action determination is based on the finding that 
the name and logo change will have no substantive effect on the public.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 605 
(b)), CNCS certifies that this rule, if adopted, will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
This regulatory action will not result in (1) an annual effect on the 
economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or 
prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, state, or local 
government agencies, or geographic regions; or (3) significant adverse 
effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, 
innovation, or on the ability of United States-based enterprises to 
compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic and export markets. 
Therefore, CNCS has not performed the initial regulatory flexibility 
analysis that is required under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) for major rules that are expected to have such 
results.

Unfunded Mandates

    For purposes of Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 
1995, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, as well as Executive Order 12875, this 
regulatory action does not contain any Federal mandate that may result 
in increased expenditures in either Federal, state, local, or tribal 
governments in the aggregate, or impose an annual burden exceeding $100 
million on the private sector.

Executive Order 13132, Federalism

    Executive Order 13132, Federalism, prohibits an agency from 
publishing any rule that has Federalism implications if the rule 
imposes substantial direct compliance costs on state and local 
governments and is not required by statute, or the rule preempts state 
law, unless the agency meets the consultation and funding requirements 
of section 6 of the Executive Order. This rule does not have any 
Federalism implications, as described above.

List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 2500

    Agency name and logos.


0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, CNCS adds part 2500 to Title 
45, Subtitle B of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 2500--AGENCY OPERATING NAME AND LOGOS

Sec.
2500.1 Agency Operating Name
2500.2 Description of Logos
2500.3 Retirement of Logos
2500.4 Authority to affix logos

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 12651c (c); 12653 (a) and (f).


Sec.  2500.1  Agency Operating Name.

    (a) The Corporation for National and Community Service adopts 
AmeriCorps as its official agency operating name.
    (b) Use of AmeriCorps as the agency operating name incorporates the 
Corporation for National and Community Service by reference.


Sec.  2500.2  Description of Logos.

    (a) The AmeriCorps Logo (Logo) is the key element in agency 
identification. It provides a visual representation of the agency's 
role to unite America by bringing people together to serve communities. 
It is symbolic of the way AmeriCorps members and volunteers lift and 
improve communities through service and volunteering. This Logo is the 
visual link which connects the graphic communications of all Agency 
programs.
    (b) The Logo is described as follows: The logo is an image of a 
solid circle containing an A where one pillar is a solid block line and 
the other is represented by a flag pole with the flag in motion, 
appearing to fly from the left to the right and forming the A as the 
flag intersects with the other pillar. AmeriCorps appears in bold to 
the right of the mark.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15OC20.002

    (c) The AmeriCorps Seniors Logo (Seniors Logo) identifies the 
highlighted AmeriCorps Seniors programs and represents the agency's 
commitment to programs and volunteer opportunities for the older 
American population.
    (d) The AmeriCorps Seniors Logo is described as follows: The word 
Seniors appears beneath AmeriCorps to the right of the circle 
containing the A.

[[Page 65241]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15OC20.003

Sec.  2500.3  Retirement of Logos.

    The agency officially retires the day-to-day use of all pre-
existing logos, emblems, and other insignia, except the Days of Service 
logos, but does not relinquish the legal rights to these logos.


Sec.  2500.4  Authority to affix logos.

    Restrictions on the use of AmeriCorps logos are found in 45 CFR 
2540.500 through 2540.560.

    Dated: September 4, 2020.
Helen Serassio,
Acting General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2020-20318 Filed 10-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P